Payload Protection

The additional functionality, for instance data stealing, file deletion, disk overwriting, BIOS flashing etc that may be included in a virus worm or Trojan Horse. Note that the payload does not necessarily have to be damaging — for instance the payload of the Form.A virus was to make the keyboard make clicking noises on one day a month — it did no damage other than that. In the case of a Trojan, it is the 'secret' function that the programmer wanted to achieve.